Bracelet



June 10, 1952 .2 c, ED 2,600,232

BRACELET Filed Aug. 20, 1947 Patented June 10, 1952 2,600,232 BRACELET Charles Feid, South Attleboro, Mass, assignor to Bugbee and Niles Company, North Attleboro, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application August 20, 1947, Serial No. 769,596

3 Claims.

This invention relates to flexible bracelets such as may be employed to secure a wrist watch in place and more particularly to improvements in the construction of extensible bracelets.

One form of extensible bracelet heretofore constructed has included a hollow arm encircling band and hooks at its opposite ends for attachment to the bails of a watch. The hooks were fixed to elements telescopically arranged to slide into and out of one or both ends of the band, these elements being yieldably held within the band by spring means and affording means whereby the bracelet was adapted to encircle a large or small wrist without mechanical adjustment. As heretofore constructed, the extensible elements to which the hooks were attached were usually narrow, fiat metal strips or wires of decidedly different appearance from the major portion of the band particularly when partially or fully extended, thus spoiling the decorative make-up of the bracelet as a whole. Such extensible elements had little flexibility as com= pared to that of the band and hence did not conform closely to the wrist of the wearer and due to the inability of the extensible elements to turn freely within the band they frequently became twisted causing discomfort to the wearer and making it difilcult to attach the watch.

Objects of the present invention are to improve bracelets of the aforesaid expansible kind to provide for a more attractive appearance, and greater conformity and flexibility in whatever degree of expansion the bracelet may be without sacrificing any of the features and advantages of previously constructed bracelets of'this type. Further objects are to provide for an inexpensive simple construction which will be easy to repair, durable and comfortable and not prone to catch on the clothing or to pinch or out into the arm of the wearer.

With these objects in view, there is illustrated herein a flexible metal mesh bracelet designed to encircle the major portion of the wrist of the wearer and to be attached at its opposite ends to the bails of a watch or other article. The bracelet includes an outer hollow inextensible cord of circular cross section with which there is telescopically associated an inner hollow inextensible cord of corresponding construction but smaller diameter of like material and appearance the latter being free to rotate relative to the outer cord and normally held within the outer cord by spring means which in no way inhibits such relative rotation of the cords. Cooperating elements on the respective cords limit the extent of longitudinal movement of the cords with respect to each other. Anchoring means at the ends of the cords afiord means for attaching its ends to the bails of a watch. As more specifically illustrated herein there are two inner cords arranged to slide into and out-of the opposite ends of the outer cord and the hooks are fastened to the outer ends of the inner cords by socket members into which fit the outer ends of the inner cords. The spring passes through the inner and outer cords and is secured at its opposite ends together with the outer ends of the inner cords in the sockets. At opposite ends of the outer cord are caps which form a finished appearance at the ends of this cord and have inner and outer portions which cooperate with elements fixed to the inner cords to limit the movement of the cords relative to each other. The caps have" frusto-conical outer ends the open ends of which correspond substantially in diameter to the inner cords and fixed to the inner ends of the inner cords are bands of such diameter as to prevent passage thereof through the open frusto-conical ends of the caps and thereby to limit outward movement of the inner cords. Engagement of the rear ends of the sockets with the free ends of the frusto-conical caps limit inward movement of the inner cords.

Alternatively, each of the inner cords instead of being connected to each other by a single spring as heretofore related, may each have a surrounding spring within the outer cord, the ends of which are confined within the outer cord by abutments in the form of caps at the opposite ends of the outer cord having apertures therein through which the inner cords pass and abutments in the form of a sleeve fixed to the inner ends of the inner cords. As constructed, other sleeves are slidably mounted on the inner cord between the ends of the springs and the caps and are held in the outer cord by spinning the material bounding the apertures in the caps inwardly over the end of the sleeves. Anchoring means in the form of an eye is fixed to the outer end of each of the inner cords and a shoulder thereon limits the inward movement of the inner cord by engagement With the outer end of the cap while outward movement of the inner cord is limited by the compression of the spring.

The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the improved bracelet which forms the subject matter of the present invention shown in a fully contracted condition;

Fig. 2 is a corresponding view with the bracelet partially expanded;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through an inner one of the cords showing the attachment thereof together with the spring to the hook socket;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal section in the vicinity of one end of the outer cord;

Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 5-5 of- Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 illustrates a fragmentary section showing a modified form of means for attaching the U cap to the outer cord;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section near one end of an alternative form ofthe brace let; and

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section of one of the inner cords removed from th Outer cord,

The bracelet illustrated herein generally by the reference character I0 is comprised of a hollow inextensible cord l2 of flexible metal mesh pref erably. of some precious metal such as gold or silver thread which will conform to the arm of the wearer. Such mesh is extremely fine and will not, scratch or pinch the arm nor will it catch on clothing. ends and a pair of hollow inextensible cords I4 of smaller diameter but composed of the same material and having the same appearance are telescopicallyarranged for longitudinal sliding movement therein and for free rotation about their longitudinal axes with, respect to the, outer cord, A socket i6 is fastened to the outer end of eachof; the inner hollow cords It and has fixed to it a hook; It for engagement with the hail of a watch or other article to be supported on the wrist. Within, the cords i2 and it is a coiled spring 2!}, Fig. 3, the opposite ends 22 of which are, fixed, together with the ends, 24 of the inner ho lmv cords in the sock m m rs 16 as by swaging the walls of the socket member inwardly midw ybetween. i s ends o pinch h co d and milie as illustrated in F g;- h s m structed. the spring serves to draw the inner hollow cords into the outer hollow cord thus con-.. tracting; thev bracelet but in no way inhibtis free rotation of the inner cords about; their longitudi-. nal axes relative to the outer cords or the. outer cords about its longitudinal axes relative to the inner cords.

Caps 26 are fastened to the opposite ends of the outer cord which provide a decorative and finished appearance thereto. The caps 25 have frusto-conical end portions 28 which are of smaller diameter at their open ends than the outercord, being approximately the same diameteras the inner cords 14 so that; these cords slide freely through the irusto-conical ends or the caps, and provide for a neat appearing and attractive joint where the inner cords slide into and out. of the outer cord. As thus constructed, the, caps, 26 also cooperate with elements attached to, the inner cords to limit the, extent of contraction and expansion of the bracelet. As illustrated, this is provided for by an annular shoulder; 30, at. the rear end of each of the sockets l B which is of such diameter as to engage the for: ward, annular end 32 of the frusto-conical portion- 28, Fig. 1, and hence limit inward movement of the cords it. Outward movement of the; inner cords I4 is limited by collars 34 fixed to the inner ends of the inner cords, these collars being The cord 2, is open at its opposite of larger diameter than the inside diameter 36 of the frusto-conical portions 28 of the caps 26 and hence by engagement with the inner surface 4 of the inner cords. These collars are secured to the opposite ends of the outer cords by means of solder 38 (Fig. 4) or inwardly directed teeth 40 which are pressed into the metal mesh as shown in Fig. 6.

In an alternative form of the bracelet, shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the outer cord I2 has telescopically mounted in its opposite open ends, inner cords M, these cords being mounted as in the form of the invention described above for longitudinal movement in and out of the open ends of the outer cord 12 and for free rotation relative thereto. As constructed, the inner cords l4 have at their outer; ends eyes 42 which may be employed to secure the ends of the bracelet to the bails or" a watch or hook means thereon, these eyes being fastened to the cords by means of stems td. Preferably the eyes are free to pivot in their stems. At the inner ends of the cords it there are fastened sleeves 16, these sleeves being secured to the cords by swaging the sleeve midway oi its ends so as to grip the cords. There is also mounted on each of the inner cords M a sleeve 53 which is free to slide thereon and between the sleeves 45 and 59 there is. disposed around the inner cord a compression spring t8, one end of which bears against the fixed sleeve 45 and the other end of which bears against the slidable-sleeve E9. The inner cords, together with their sleeves, and springs. are inserted into the open ends of the outer cord l2 and are retained therein by caps 52 which are fastened to the open end of the sleeve l2 by swaging at 54. In assembling the elements the caps 52 are first applied to the open, ends of the outer cord H: with their ends 55 left open, that is, only partially bent. in. wardly whereupon the inner cords are slipped into the outer cord until the sleeves 5d are beyond the outer ends 56 of the caps whereupon these ends are spun inwardly into close engagement with the inner cords H3 and so as to forrn abut ments against which the sleeves 5B are held by the springs 48. By confining the sleeves 51 With".

in the caps 52 the springs are restrained between the sleeves 45 and 5B and hence when the inner cords It are drawn outwardly from the outer sleeve they will tend to compress the springs 68. The extent of outward movement of the inner cords M will be limited by complete compression of the springs #8 while the extent of inner movement of the inner cords will be limited by Oilgagement of shoulders 58 formed adjacent to the eyes 42 and which will bear against the outer ends of the caps52.

A bracelet construction in accordance with either form of the invention as described above is readily adaptable by expansion to fit the wrist. of most persons without mechanical adjustments which are, frequently annoying and difficult to perform with one hand, will conform closely to the wrist even in its expanded condition without displaying unsightly connecting members of different construction and which will have no elc-, ments of such a nature as to catch on the clothin or pinch, scratch or cut into the wrist of the wearer. Moreover, because of the complete freedom of rotation of the inner and outer cords relative to, each other, there is no twisting of the bracelet which might cause discomfort to the wearer. A still further advantage overprior bracelets is that the rolling action of the cords facilitates donning the band and permits shifting the position of the watch on the, wrist after it has. been donned with a minimum of difiiculty since of these portions limiting the outward movemen he br q t: l not ick, Q ihe wrist as will a,

flat band and need not be loosened as would an adjustable band. The bracelet may b readily attached simply by engaging the hooks H3 or eyes 42 with the bails of the Watch while off the wrist and thereafter expanding the bracelet sufilciently to permit the hand to be thrust through it where upon it will automatically contract and accommodate itself snugly and comfortably to the wrist.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A flexibl bracelet comprising an outer hollow cord af flexible metal mesh fabric having open ends, inner flexible hollow cords telescopically mounted for sliding movement in the open opposite ends of the outer hollow cord and free to rotate relative to the outer cord about their longitudinal axes, said inner hollow cords being a flexible metal fabric mesh, both the inner and outer cords having a uniform cross section throughout socket members secured to the outer ends of the inner hollow cords, attaching means fixed to said socket members, means at the opposite ends of the outer cord through which the inner cords slide, means near the opposite ends of the inner cords for engagement with the outsides of the means at the ends of the outer cord when the cords ar contracted within the outer cord and for engagement with the insides of the means at the ends of the outer cord when the inner cord are extended and a spring anchored at its opposit ends to the socket members and extending through said inner and outer cords for normally holding the bracelet in a contracted condition said springs in no way inhibiting rotation of the outer cord about the longitudinal axes of the inner cords.

2. A flexible bracelet comprising an outer hollow cord of flexible inextensible metal mesh fabric, having open ends, inner hollow cords telescopically mounted for sliding movement in the open opposite ends of the outer hollow cord said inner hollow cords being of flexible inextensible metal mesh fabric, said cords having a uniform cross section throughout socket members at the outer ends of the inner hollow cord, attaching hook fixed to the sockets adapted to be attached to watch bails, means at the opposite ends of the outer cord through which the inner cords slide, means near the opposite ends of the inner cords for engagement with the outsides of the means at the ends of the outer cord when the cords are contracted within the outer cord and for engagement with the insides of the means at the ends of the outer cord when the inner cords are extended and a spring extending through the inner and outer hollow cords with its ends anchored together with the outer ends of the inner cords to the socket members, said spring being in a nearly unstretched condition when the inner cords are completely Withdrawn into the outer cord.

3. A flexible bracelet comprising an outer hollow cord of flexible metal mesh fabric having a uniform cross section, caps closely fitting and fixed to the opposite open ends of the outer cord to provide an attractive finish therefor, said caps having end portions of smaller diameter than the outer cord, inner cords telescopically mounted for sliding movement in the opposite open ends of the outer cord, said inner cords being of flexible metal mesh fabric having a uniform cross section and small enough in diameter to slide freely through the reduced ends of the caps, socket members at the outer ends of the inner cords, attaching hooks fixed to the socket members adapted to be attached to a watch bail, a spring extending through the inner and outer cords with its ends anchored together with the outer ends of the inner cords in the socket members, annular shoulder at the inner ends of the socket members corresponding in diameter to the outer reduced end portions of the caps for engagement therewith to limit retraction of the inner cords, and collars fixed to the inner ends of the inner cords of a larger diameter than the inside diameter of the reduced end portions of said caps to limit extension of the inner cords.

CHARLES FEID.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 821,216 Castera May 22, 1906 1,515,499 Lederer Nov. 11, 1924 1,541,764 Harrison June 9, 1925 1,616,215 Chilson Feb. 1, 1927 1,736,166 Nittel Nov. 19, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 349,975 France Aug. 10, 1905 

